Cam-cleat



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. E. MGOLURE. CAM GLEAT.

No. 441,692. Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

INVENTOR WITNESSES anzns col, mom-mm msumawu, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEETQ ALBERT EAYERS MCCLURE, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI.

CAM-CLEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,692, dated December2, 1890.

Application filed February 28, 1890. Serial No. 342,097. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT EAYERS MC- CLURE, of Sedalia, in the countyof Pettis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Cam-Cleats, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in cam-cleats, designed to secureropes, hawsers, or cords, as may be desired, the size of the cleatdepending upon the use for which it is intended; and the object of myinvention is to produce a cam-cleat which will not only secure the rope,cord, or hawser automatically at any desired point, but which also maybe released from its grip on the rope or cord quickly and withouttrouble.

I will now describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art maymanufacture and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is afront elevation of my improved cleat. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modification. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

In the drawings, a represents a base-plate, which may be secured to thedeck of avessel by suitable bolts 1'), to the side of a windowframe, orto any other place where it is desired to use the cleat. Extending fromthis base-plate a are two standards or supports 0 d, the standard-plate0 being extended upwardly to a point above the top of the standard d,and curved down over the same, leaving a space between the end of thestandard 0 and the end of the standard (Z, which ends are designated asc d. Journaled transversely between the lower portion to the standards ad is a shaft 6, mounted upon which is a cam-cleatf, the upper edge ofwhich may be, preferably, serrated, and also may be provided with aconcavity g. Extending from this cam is a lug h, to which is attachedone end of a spiral spring 1), which spring may encircle the shaft 6,and at the other end may be connected to the base-plate a by a rivet orscrew The curved portion of the standardplate 0 on its lower face mayalso be serrated. Connected with the cam f is a handle or lever k, whichmay be either-integral with the cam or may be a handle or lever passingthrough sockets Z m formed on the edges of the cam, as is shown in Figs.1 and 2.

The operation of this device, in so far as I have described it, is asfollows: In securing the rope, line, or hawser, it passes through thecleat between the standard cand the cam f, over the concavity g in thecam f, and the cam is compressed on the rope by the spring 2'. Then thehawser, rope, or cord has been secured in the cleat, the action of thespring t' keeps the cam f in position toward the standard-plate c. Assoon as the part of the rope is drawn taut binding force is exerted bythe action of the cam, which binding force becomes greater with theincreased strain on the part of the rope, owing to the action of thecam. For this reason, when a rope becomes taut in the cam-cleat it isoften diffi cult and impossible to feed out the same. This may, however,be easily accomplished by the use of the lever or hand-hold k, whichallows the grip of the cam to be slackened by withdrawing the rope fromthe cleat.

It is often desirable to fastena hawser or rope by a cleat and lead itthence at an angle to the line of the rope. This Iaccomplish by themodifications shown in Figs. 3, at, and 5, which I will now proceed moreparticularly to describe.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a standard 0 is fixed to thebase-plate a, and projects vertically therefrom, and a bearing face orprojection 0 extends over the baseplate a transversely from thestandard. The cam f is constructed as shown in these figures, and ispivoted on a pin 6 in a recess in the base-plate a. The spring 1"encircles the shaft e, its ends 2' and i hear on the baseplate and onthe cam, and the cam is adapted to engage the rope between its end andthe face of the projection 0 A handle or lever is fixed to the cam, andprojects therefrom in the manner illustrated, and at its end is proyidedwith a hook or loop k through which the taut part of the rope may bepassed, and from which it may be led at the desired angle, as shown inFig. 4t. The free end of the rope passes over or is coiled upon the hook9'), which projects from the plate a. To disengage the cam from therope, the lever [1 should be grasped and moved in the direction of thearrow A, the effect of which is to turn the cam on its axis and torelease the rope. The modification shown in Fig. 5 is the same as thatshown in Figs. 3 and 4, except that instead of having the lever kproject from the middle of the cam fit is fixed to the shaft 6 at theside of the base-plate a. In this modification the cam f should be keyedto the shaft 0, whereas in the form shown in Figs. 3 and lit is notnecessary that the cam should be so keyed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 I show the lever provided with asingle branch loop instead of a double branch loop, as shown in Figs. 3and 4.

I am aware that cam-cleats, either with or without a spring, are notnew, and I do not desire to claim the same broadly; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

The combination of a standard or plate having a biting-surface, apivoted cam, a spring connected therewith, and a hand-hold or leverconnected with the cam and adapted to turn the cam and slacken or easethe line through the cleat, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ofFebruary, A. D. 1890.

ALBERT EAYERS lllCCLURE.

\Vitnesses:

W. P. POTTER, J NO. K. SMITH.

